Birzeit Uninversity News

الى الطلبة الملتحقين ببرنامج الماجستير في الإحصاء التطبيقي في جامعة بيرزيت - Announcements

بعد دراسة الطلبات المقدمة لمنحة عائلة المرحوم الدكتور سالم خميس، فقد تم اختيار أحد الطلبة المتقدمين للمنحة، وقد تم إبلاغه بذلك.

History and Archaeology Department Conducts Archaeological Landscape Survey and Excavations in Jericho - News

From 4 – 20 January 2012, a team of faculty members and students from the History and Archaeology Department at BZU and the Institute of Archaeology at University College London (UCL) conducted the fourth season of archaeological landscape survey and excavations in the area of Khirbat al-Mafjar near Hisham’s Palace, north of Jericho. This joint venture was organized in cooperation with the Palestinian Department of Antiquities and was headed by Dr. Mahmoud Hawari from the BZU Department of History and Archaeology.

The aim of this fieldwork and research project is two-fold: to enhance the understanding of the palace complex which dates back to the Umayyad Period (8^th century) within the context of its cultural and historical environment, and its link to the contemporary urban settlement at Jericho; and to offer capacity building training to BZU students in various fieldwork methods of archaeological survey and excavation, as part of the efforts to revive the Palestinian Institute of Archaeology at BZU.

During this fourth season of fieldwork, the team resumed the landscape survey in the area extending southwest of the palace, focusing on the water management system which once provided the baths and agricultural estate to the east of Hisham’s Palace with water. Referring to old maps, photographs, satellite imagery and archives, the team discovered and documented various remains of an aqueduct that brought water from ‘Ain el-Sultan to the palace, about 2 km long. During the previous seasons of fieldwork, another aqueduct that channels water from ‘Ain el-Nuwei’meh in the west to the palace in the east (about 5 km long) was discovered and documented. The latter includes two large ruined bridges, a large reservoir and numerous sections of the aqueduct. Moreover, the team conducted archaeological excavations revealing the remains of a mill (tahuna), probably a flour mill, which was powered by water from the adjacent reservoir of the aqueduct, about 700 m west of the palace.

BZU Hosts Meeting to Promote Sports Medicine and Science - News

On 16 January 2012, a meeting was held between British athletic experts and the BZU administration, represented by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Adnan Yahya; Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Dr. Mahdi Arar; Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Allied Health Professions, Dr. Tamer Eisawi; Representative of the Physical Education Program, Kamal Shamshoum; and Chairperson of the Department of Nutrition, Afaf Giacaman.

The expert Patrick Wilson who initiated the concept of the development of sports medicine and science at Palestinian universities, expressed his sympathy with Palestinians who suffer from the Israeli occupation. He underscored the delegation’s intention to provide assistance in sports medicine and science.

Shamshoum presented the Physical Education Program’s sport activities, noting the program’s hope that BZU will offer a bachelor’s degree in physical education in the near future.

President of Chelsea School of Sport at the University of Brighton and Fellow at British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Professor Jonathan Doust, said that the purpose of this visit is to raise awareness of sports among the Palestinians players and coaches and support the development

Professor of the Sociology of Sport at the Chelsea School of Sport, John Sugden, talked about the German, French and British sports schools, considered among the top in the areas of sports development, medicine and dietetics.

At the end of the meeting, the British delegation asserted that strategic planning is a solid foundation for building a generation of athletes, who may increase the number of contestants in international tournaments or at the Olympic Games.

International Summer Work Camp 2012 - Announcements

Birzeit University is proud to announce the convening of its annual International Summer Work Camp for 2012

July 01 - July 12, 2012

Please Click here for more information

BZU Institute of Law Holds Gender Training - News

In cooperation with the Ministry of Local Government (MoLG), the Institute of Law (IoL) at BZU held a specialized training course on integrating gender criteria in the work of local government units (LGUs) in Hebron governorate. The training took place on 21 January 2012, targeting LGU staff members in the governorate of Hebron.

In the opening session, Dr. Khaled al-Qawasmeh, Minister of Local Government, stated that gender is of paramount importance in functions of the Ministry of Local Government (MoLG). Accordingly, gender has been duly incorporated within the Local Government Sector strategy and in other sector strategies in Palestine, he added.

Al-Qawasmeh confirmed that “this training activity contributes to promoting women’s role and work and to integrating gender as a concept and practice in the local government sector, including relevant legislation, policies, plans and programs.”

As an outcome of ongoing and fruitful cooperation between the MoLG and IoL, a series of training courses targeting LGU staff throughout Palestinian governorates in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have been organized. In this context, Al-Qawasmeh announced the MoLG’s implementation of several activities, including a gender-based auditing program at the Ministry.

Engineer Khaled ‘Useili, Mayor of the Hebron Municipality, asserted that the Municipality is greatly interested in gender issues. In this vein, it has implemented several projects that take into account women’s needs, including sports, clubs and halls, as well as children’s centers. ‘Useili explained that “issues of concern to both men and women are taken into account on an equal footing.” He also stated that ongoing cooperation initiatives between the Hebron Municipality and MoLG were designed to develop and promote citizens’ common interests.

On behalf of the Governor of Hebron, Mr. Marwan Sultan explained that the Governor’s Office “looks forward to maintaining integration and contacts with gender-oriented programs, LGUs and other institutions, including the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, women protection centers and the Palestinian police. To enable women to pursue their potential in various areas, the Governor’s Office also implements programs and provides services to further develop the status of Palestinian women and highlight their achievements. Literature on women’s rights is also significant, especially in relation to women’s economic development.”

Representing the IoL, Program Manager Mu’in al-Barghouthi stated that this training course “discusses gender from specialized perspectives that are of interest to LGU staff. Accordingly, skills and expertise, which trainees learn herein, will reflect on broader LGU work and public service delivery in respective areas of operation and in line with relevant needs. This training course also allows participating LGUs to share experiences.”

This five-day training is one of ten training courses that target LGU staff in the West Bank and Gaza Strip governorates.

As part of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Women in the occupied Palestinian territories, six UN Agencies, namely UNDP/PAPP, UN-Women, ILO, UNESCO, UNFPA and UNRWA, are implementing a joint Program on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, funded by the Government of Spain. The Project began in 2009 and runs through 2012.

Workshop on "Holistic Approach to Achieve Quality in Higher Education" - News

In cooperation with the British Council, the Association of Arab Universities organized a workshop entitled "Holistic Approach to Achieve Quality in Higher Education" from 11-12 January 2012. Representing the Quality Assurance Unit at BZU, Nabil Dabdoub participated in the workshop held in Amman, Jordan, under the auspices of the Jordanian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Rowaida Al- Maa’ytah.

The workshop was attended by representatives of the Quality Assurance Units at Arab universities in Jordan, Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Iraq, Yemen, Morocco, Sudan, Palestine, Lebanon, and Bahrain as well as a number of British experts in the field.

The participants discussed ways to acquaint university administration and those in charge of quality management in universities and higher education institutions with the methodological approach to quality assurance in higher education. They also discussed opportunities and challenges pertinent to implementing quality assurance criteria in their institutions.

For more information, please visit:

www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?storyid=1093472298

BZU Receives New Students for the Second Semester 2011-2012 - News

The BZU Deanship of Student Affairs held a reception at Kamal Nasser Hall on 14 January 2012 for the newest cohort of students. The reception welcomed the new students for the second semester of the 2011-2012 academic year and helped familiarize them with BZU facilities, faculties and disciplines.

Acting Dean of Student Affairs, Mohammad Al-Ahmad, noted that BZU admitted more than 200 new students. He called on the new students to join extra-curricular activities, and encouraged them to make use of University services: "The new students should take advantage of the help and assistance provided by the Deanship of Student Affairs during the freshman year."

University Registrar, Mohamed Abu Zayed, addressed the procedures for admission and registration, inviting new students to follow up on their own registration procedures.

Enabling Palestinian students to claim their right to education, Acting General Manager of Student Loan Revolving Fund at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Murad Obaid, called upon all students in financial need to apply for a loan via the Fund’s website: www.iqrad.edu.ps. He added that concerned students should submit supporting documents to the Deanship of Student Affairs for verification.

The event included several activities, wherein new students conversed with older ones on a variety of issues. The new students also met with their deans.

During the reception, an informative film on BZU’s facilities was screened. Mohammad Zainaddin from the Computer Center trained the new students on BZU’s academic and administrative portal "Ritaj." Following that, the new students toured the campus, guided by volunteer students trained in guiding tours of BZU.

2012 FIFA/CIES Network Prize and Special Prize Awarded to Students from Spain and Palestine - News

2012 FIFA/CIES Network Prize and Special Prize Awarded to Students from Spain and Palestine

For full text of the news item, please visit:

http://www.cies-uni.org/node/7416

Mahmoud Darwish at Berkeley University - News

Chairperson of the BZU Department of Philosophy and Cultural Studies and Director of BZU’s Master’s Program in Arab Contemporary Studies, Dr. Abdul-Rahim-al-Shaikh, visited the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) from 3-11 December 2011. He was invited by Dr. Judith Butler, who is Maxine Elliot Professor in the Departments of Rhetoric and Comparative Literature and the Co-director of the Program of Critical Theory at the University of California, Berkeley.

Al-Shaikh was invited to give a series of lectures and conduct workshops at Berkeley’s Department of Rhetoric, as well as in the Critical Theory and Comparative Literature programs. The visit included several academic, intellectual and cultural events, including a lecture delivered on 6 December 2011, hosted by the Berkeley Townsend Center for the Humanities, entitled: "Mahmoud Darwish: In Defense of Little Differences." Al-Shaikh also lectured at the Middle Eastern Studies program at the University of Santa Cruz.

For more information, please visit: http://townsendlab.berkeley.edu/critical-theory/events/abdul-rahim-al-shaikh-mahmoud-darwish-%E2%80%9C%E2%80%A6-defense-little-differences%E2%80%9D

It is worth noting that Judith Butler visited BZU in early 2010, and is expected to visit again in April 2012. She will be accompanied by one of the most influential French philosophers, Etienne Balibar.

“Securities Arbitration” – lecture at BZU - News

In cooperation with the Department of Finance and Banking and the Faculty of Commerce and Economics, the Department of Law at the Faculty of Law and Public Administration held a lecture on 21 December 2011. The lecture on "Securities Arbitration" was delivered by Dr. Ghassan Khaled, Professor of Commercial Law at An-Najah National University in Nablus.

In his opening address, Dr. Mohammed Alqaisi, Professor of Commercial Law at BZU pointed to the importance of the topic and to the legal framework that regulates arbitration issues in general, and securities arbitration in particular.

Dr. Khaled addressed arbitration as an alternative and parallel tool for conflict resolution in securities arbitration claims, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the arbitration process. He clarified the laws and regulations governing arbitration, referring to the Palestinian Arbitration Act No. (3) of 2001.